NMBio Selects New Mexico BioGENEius Winners

The New Mexico Biotechnology and Biomedical Association (NMBio) awarded
the top two biotech-related projects at the New Mexico Science and
Engineering Fair with an all-expense paid trip to the U.S. National
BioGENEius Challenge in Boston, MA, June 16-19, 2012. LynnMarie Jarratt
of Los Lunas, N.M. and Serina Pack of Silver City, N.M. were selected to
advance to the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge as the students that
presented the best Senior Division biotech-related projects. This is the
first year that New Mexico has held a local BioGENEius challenge and
sent participants to the U.S. national event. A collaboration between
the Biotechnology Institute and NMBio lead to the creation of the
inaugural New Mexico BioGENEius Challenge for students in grades 9-12
that qualified to participate in the New Mexico Science and Engineering
Fair.

The top 10 finalists in the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge will
advance to the International BioGENEius Challenge, held in conjunction
with the BIO Annual International Convention in Boston, and present
their projects to a panel of expert biotech judges and to the
convention’s approximately 20,000 attendees. A $7,500 prize is awarded
to the first place winner in the International BioGENEius Challenge,
with a $5,000 award for second place, $2,500 for third place and $1,000
for fourth place. In 2010 and 2011 the top performers at the
International BioGENEius Challenge were invited to an informal science
fair at the White House with an opportunity to meet the President.

“NMBio has greatly expanded its educational initiatives over the past
year with the creation of our Scholarship Program and the New Mexico
BioGENEius Challenge,” said NMBio President Andrew Salazar. “We are
thrilled to be able to send two New Mexico high school students to the
U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge in Boston to represent our state and
to present their innovative ideas in the biotechnology field to a
national audience. The New Mexico BioGENEius Challenge will grant our
students exposure to the BIO Annual International Convention, the
premiere event of its kind in the country, and afford them opportunities
that were previously unavailable to students in our state.”

Please visit nmbio.org for further information on the $1,000 NMBio
Scholarship Award available to a high school senior graduating in 2012
and planning to major in a biotechnology or biomedical related field at
a New Mexico University.

About The New Mexico Biotechnology and Biomedical Association:

The New Mexico Biotechnology and Biomedical Association (NMBio) actively
supports and promotes the development of the biosciences industry in the
state. The association provides a forum for information exchange,
develops initiatives to enhance business success, offers education
regarding bioscience in the state, helps establish collaboration, and
serves as a voice of the industry to state, federal and local
governments.

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